Molding device for producing railway sleepers



June 22, 1965 R. P. SONNEVILLE 3,190,607 I MOLDING DEVICE FOR PRODUCING RAILWAY SLEEPERS Filed Aug. 8, 1961 s Sheets-Sheet 1 June 22, 1965 R. P. SONNEVILLE 3,

MOLD ING DEVICE FOR PRODUCING RAILWAY SLEEPERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 8, 1961 June 22, 1965 R. P. SONNEVILLE 3,190,607

MOLDING DEVICE FOR PRODUCING RAILWAY SLEEPERS Filed Aug. 8, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent 3,190,607 MULDING DEVICE FUR PRODUCING RAILWAY SLEEPERS Roger Paul Sonneville, '5 Ave. Leonie,

Saint-Cloud, France Filed Aug. 8, 1961, Ser. No. 130,118 Claims priority, application France, Aug. 10, 1969,

835,558, Patent 1,277,589 5 Claims. (Cl. 249-91) The present invention relates to railway track sleepers and provides a sleeper better adapted to modern railway tracks than known sleepers.

It more particularly relates to the combination in the same sleeper of the advantages of metal sleepers and those of composite steel and reinforced concrete sleepers which, owing to their strength and their resistance to weather conditions, tend to replace conventional wooden sleepers-the disadvantages of each of these two types of sleeper being however avoided.

The shape of the metal sleeper, having a cross-sectional shape similar to an inverted U or an inverted trough, is eminently functional, since it combines a high moment of inertia under the rails with an excellent anchoring in the ballast trappedbetween the horizontal web and the lateral faces or flanges of the sleeper. The metal sleeper ensures furthermore in a simple manner an excellent anchoring of the T-shaped fixing screws of the rails, which are inserted in rectangular apertures in the web of the sleeper and locked by rotation through 90 under this web.

0n the other hand, the metal sleeper is light and ill adapted to the laying of long welded rails which require heavy sleepers.

The inner surface of the metal sleeper in contact with the ballast is eroded by the asperities of the broken-up hard stones generally constituting this ballast and this erosion accelerates the corosion of the sleeper. Moreover, the hollow shape of the sleeper renders the correct leveling of the track by introduction of additional ballast much more difficult than with sleepers having a flat inner surface. Further, if it is to be produced on a commercial scale at low price, the sleeper must be rolled into shape. Consequently, it is not possible to reinforce this rolledsection sleeper under the rails and to lighten it in its middle part where it is greatly oversize. Lastly, it will be observed that the metal sleeper does not lend itself to the use of coachscrews or spikes.

The composite sleeper comprising two reinforced concrete blocks tied together by a metal bracing element is heavy enough to receive long welded rails. It is easily placed in position on the ballast and the level of the track can be easily corrected owing to the flat lower face of the blocks. However, heretofore elforts have generally been made to obtain a maximum inertia in the vertical direction of the bracing element and to this end there have been adapted sections for this bracing element Whose main web is vertical, such as I, T or Y-shaped sections. The use of such sections having a vertical web placed on the longitudinal axis of the sleeper renders fixing the rail by bolts, screws or coachscrews located on this longitudinal axis diflicult.

The invention overcomes these drawbacks and provides to this end a sleeper comprising two reinforced concrete blocks tied together by a longitudinal metal bracing element whose ends are embedded in the blocks characterised in that said bracing element has a cross-section in the form of an inverted U, the horizontal web of said element in the parts thereof embedded in the concrete being in the vicinity of the neutral axis of the sleeper and being provided with axial apertures communicating ice with the upper surface of the blocks by way of upper vertical passageways formed in the concrete for the passage of the means for fastening or holding down the rail.

As will be clear from the foregoing arrangement, the sleeper according to the invention belongs to both the composite and metal types of sleeper. It can be considered as a metal sleeper whose ends are embedded in concrete, which arrangement counters the effect of the drawbacks of metal sleepers. Furthermore, the sleeper of the invention permits, relative to composite sleepers, a much easier fastening of the rail by screws, bolts or coachscrews located on the longitudinal axis of the sleeper without substantial weakening of the longitudinal bracing element.

The sleeper according to the invention is easier to produce by moulding and the scope of the invention also embraces a moulding device and method adapted to obtain a particular embodiment of the sleeper.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the ensuing description with reference to the accompanying drawings to which the scope of the invention is in no way limited.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a modification of the reinforcement according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective and exploded view of another embodiment of the invention cut away transversely so as to show the details more clearly and illustrates the mold parts in an exploded condition,

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of the sleeper within the moulding means therefor, and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective View illustrating the mold parts and sleeper parts in relative assembled relationship for molding a block of the sleeper according to the invention.

In the embodiment shown in FEGS. 1 and 2, the sleeper T comprises two reinforced concrete blocks 1 tied together or assembled by a longitudinal bracing element 2 whose ends are embedded in the blocks.

This bracing element 2 consists of an inverted metal channel (FIG. 2). Thus this element has an inverted U-shaped cross-section whose base, constituted by the web 3 of the section, is horizontal and whose branches, constituted by the flanges d, are vertical but slightly downwardly divergent. In other words, this bracing element has a shape very similar to that of a metal sleeper which could, moreover, constitute this element. However, the cross-sectional size of the element 2 could generally be less than that of a metal sleeper, in view of the reinforcement afforded by the block.

The horizontal web 3 is embedded in the blocks l in the vicinity of the neutral axis of the sleeper and it is entirely covered by the concrete in these blocks. The latter are furthermore reinforced by reinforcements 5 and metal spiral elements 6. In order to fix the rails R on the upper face of the blocks 1, the horizontal web 3 is provided, in the parts thereof covered by the concrete, with apertures 7 which communicate with the upper face of the blocks by way of vertical passageways 8. The apertures 7 and the passageways 8 located on the common longitudinal axis of the element 2 and the sleeper T allow passage of rail fastening or holding down means, such as bolts, screws or coachscrews. Thus in each block 1 there are two apertures 7 and two passageways 8 located on each side of the bearing line of the rail R.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is particularly suitable for the holding down of the rails by means of the coachscrews E. The use of coachscrews, which are screwed into position, requires the presence of a core of wood 9 or a conventional sleeve or fitting. To place these cores or sleeves 9 in position, a convenient way consists in providing in the concrete under the apertures 7 vertical passageways 10 which extend the passageways 8 down to the bottom face of the blocks. Thus each core 9 extends right through the block 1 through the passageways 8 and 10 and the aperture 7. This arrangement permits an extremely easy moulding of the sleepers T, the recesses for the passageways 3 and 10 being formed in the concrete, for example by a withdrawable core or by the core 9 itself which remains in position in the sleeper when the latter is removed from the mould.

The longitudinal bracing element 2, instead of being constituted by a single U-shaped section member, could be formed by the assembly of two angle irons or L-sectioned elements 2 (FIG. 3) whose horizontal flanges 3 are fixed together by spaced-apart welded plates 11. The latter are so disposed as to provide a space 7 between the flanges 3 which act as the apertures 7 in the regions of the means for holding down or fastening the rails.

The sleeper of the invention can be very easily adapted for the use of T-shaped bolts, such as those used with metal sleepers. Such an arrangement is shown in FIGS. 4, and 6, with FIG. 4 showing in particular the T-bolt B. The latter consists of a screw-threaded shank 12 and a parallel-sided head 13, the assembly having the shape of a T, whence the name given to this type of bolt. In the region where the head 13 is connected to the shank 12, there is also provided a square-sectioned portion 14 for keying the bolt in position. These bolts are used with a metal sleeper in the following way: The sleeper is provided with rectangular apertures whose size is substantially equal to that of the head 13. In order to place the bolt in position, the head 13 is lowered into the aperture until the square portion 14 lies below the edges of this aperture, the bolt is then turned through 90, which permits the head 13 to hook under the horizontal web of the sleeper, and then the bolt is raised so that the square portion 14 is locked or keyed in the aperture.

It will be understood that such a manner of assemblin the bolt in the presently-described sleeper is only possible if there are provided in the blocks 1 under the apertures in the element 2 a space permitting rotation of the head 13. This space must be arranged moreover in such manner as to permit the sleeper to be withdrawn from the mould without necessity for provision of large empty spaces which are of no functional utility and weaken the sleeper.

It will now be shown how this problem is solved according to the invention. The sleeper T comprises in the same way as the sleeper T, two blocks 1 braced and held together by a longitudinal bracing element 2, except that the apertures 7 in the web 3 and the passageways 8 which surmount them in the blocks 1, are rectangular in cross-section, their largest dimension being parallel with the longitudinal axis of the sleeper. Provided under the web 3 in the blocks 1 vertically below each aperture 7 and passageway 8 is a cavity 15 having a substantially parallelepipedic shape. The horizontal faces 16 and 17 of this cavity are substantially square, the side of the square being about equal to the length of each aperture 7". The height of the cavity 15 is at least equal to the sum of the heights of the head 13 and the square portion 14. In both opposite corners of the cavity 15 inwardly protrude two dihedral projections 18 whose vertical faces 19 which are disposed transversely of the aperture 7 act as an abutment for the head 13 so as to limit the rotation thereof, as will be understood from the ensuing description. The other two corners have a radius or fillet. Extending from the centre of the cavity 15 is a vertical passageway 21 having a conical or tapered section and communicating with the bottom face of the block 1.

The bolts B are placed in position in the following way. Each bolt B is introduced in the corresponding passageway 8 and in the underlying aperture 7 In passing through the latter the head 13 reaches the cavity 15 and the bolt is pushed down until the square portion 14 also enters the cavity 15. Nothing then opposes rotation of the head 13 and the square portion 14 in the cavity 15, this rotation being accomplished by rotating the shank 12. When this rotation reaches the side faces of the head 13 abut the faces 19. The bolt B can then be raised, its square portion 14 becoming keyed in the aperture 7 at 90 to its initial position. The bolt is then held in position by the keying of its square portion 14, by the abutment of the lateral faces of its head 13 against the faces 19 and by the abutment of the top face of its head 13 against the bottom face of the web 3 on each side of the aperture 7". This constitutes a particularly strong anchoring which is obtained with minimum weakening of the blocks 1. The passageway 21 of small cross-section acts as a drain pipe for water and dirt which might enter the cavity 15 through the upper face of the sleeper. It thus has a functional purpose without weakening the blocks 1 owing to its crosssection which can be decreased as much as desired, and this drain passageway can even be eliminated.

It will now be understood that this sleeper T is nonetheless mouldable in an extremely simple way, by means of a moulding device also embraced by the scope of the invention and shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

This device comprises a mould 22 for each block and having sidewalls and a bottom therefor in a quadrangular shape. One of the lateral faces or sidewalls of the mould 22 is recessed or notched to permit passage of the bracing element 2. This recess can be closed by means for closing it, once the bracing element has been placed in position, comprising a flap or panel 23 detachably held in position in any suitable manner.

The bottom 24 of the mould 22 on which rests the upper face of the sleeper T is provided with an aperture 25 in the region of each passageway 8 to be formed. The aperture 25 has a rectangular section equal to that of the passageway 8 Extending into this aperture is a core N adapted to form in the concrete of the block 1 the passageway 8 the cavity 15 and the passageway 21.

The core N is in three parts: a central part 26 and two end parts or strips 27. The central part 26 is substantially parallelepipedic and surmounted by a tapered or conical extension 28 adapted to form a drain passageway 21 through the block. It has been shown detached from the mould in FIG. 5 to render the drawing more clear. In actual fact it is mounted rigid with the mould as shown in FIG. 6, the two opposite lateral faces 29 of the part 26 being respectively in one piece with the transverse faces 30 of the apertures 25. The thickness of the part 26 is such that the other two lateral faces 31 are spaced from the longitudinal faces 32 of the aperture 25 an equal distance corresponding to the thickness of each strip 27.

The part 26 and the adjoining two strips 27 occupy the entire volume of the aperture 25 and owing to their extension out of this aperture, form in the mould 22 the space for the passageway 23*. They are also adapted to extend through the aperture 7'. The latter has however a length slightly less than that of the passageway 8 and the faces 29 of the part 26 and the longitudinal edges of the strips 27 are recessed to permit this extension through the aperture 7 This recessing forms shoulders 33 on the part 26 and the strips 27.

Each strip 27 comprises above the shoulder 33, a boss 34 which extends from one of the longitudinal edges of the strip, where it has a rounded edge 35, to a point within the other longitudinal edge, which creates a re-entrant dihedron 36. The longitudinal edge from which the boss 34 extends is reversed on the two strips 27.

The bosses 34 define shoulders abutting the underside of the brazing element and are adapted to form in the concrete the parts or lateral extensions of the cavity 15 which extend beyond the aperture '7 and immediately adjacent the underside of the bracing element. The rounded edges 35 of the bosses form the fillets 20 of the cavity 15 and the dihedrons 36 form the protruding dihedrons 1d and the abutment faces 19 of the cavity. It should be mentioned that the thickness of the strips 2'7 in the region of the bosses 34- is less than the thickness of the part 26 and thus less than the width of the aperture i The faces 32 of the mould aperture and the faces 31 of the part 26 are provided with aligned apertures 37 and 33 respectively. Each strip 27 is even provided at its base with an aperture. A pin 4t) can thus be introduced into these apertures 37-39 and lock the strip 27 in the mould 22 as shown in FIG. 6, whereby the bracing element and core parts are fixed in relative positions and held relative to said mold with a minimum of cavities being formed in the individual concrete blocks.

The sleeper T is moulded in the following manner:

The bracing element 2 in which the apertures 7 have been previously formed is placed in position in the mould 22. It is positioned therein by way of the recess by removin and then replacing the panel 23 and by the penetration in the region of each aperture 2% of the part 26 of the corresponding core N in the aligned aperture '7 The web 3 of the element 2 thus abuts against the shoulder Thereafter, the strips 2'7 on each side of the part 26 are slid into each aperture 7 until these strips enter the aperture 25 and their apertures 39 come into alignment with the apertures 3'7 and 353. The shoulders defined by the bosses abut the underside of the bracing ele ment Web and the shoulders 33 the opposite side. The assembly is then locked or keyed in position by the pins 4b, the element 2 being very firmly held in this manner. The concrete can then be poured and vibrated in the mould 22 without danger of the element 2 moving, the reinforcements 5 and 5 being placed in position at the right time.

The sleeper T can then be withdrawn from the mould 22 inverting the latter, since the bracing element 2 locked or keyed in the mould holds the surrounding concrete if it has been rendered suiiiciently compact.

Upon withdrawal of the pins 4%, the strips 27 are unloclred. It is then possible to vertically raise the mould 22, the movement of which is guided by the part 26 of the core N rigid with the aperture which slides between the two strips 27 which remain in the sleeper. When the concrete has attained sufficient cohesion, one of the strips 27' is extracted in moving it toward the other strip, the strip being thinner in the region of the boss than the part 26. The other strip 27 is then extracted. Thus the central part 26 has a width to permit withdrawal of the other mold parts after its withdrawal.

The foregoing description shows how easy it is to mould the sleeper. it will be observed that this moulding could be carried out in the same manner if the part 2-6 of the core N was detachable in the same way as the strips 27 instead of being rigid with the mould.

The sleeper according to the invention has many advantages.

It possesses the properties of strength and performance of a metal sleeper owing to its longitudinal bracing element which has the same shape as the metal type of sleeper. It is, however, heavier than the latter owing to its concrete blocks 1, which permits laying long welded rails. This saving in weight can be achieved while using less steel, since the reinforcement afforded by the concrete permits reducing the section of the bracing element relative to that of a metal sleeper. The problems of erosion and corrosion due to the rubbing of the ballast are eliminated, since the ends or" the bracing element are covered or embedded, whereas the central part is raised and can be treated by an anti-corrosion covering without the latter being immediately put out of use by the rubbing against the ballast. The correction of the level of the track by addition of ballast is moreover much easier owing to the flat bottom face of the blocks. Lastly, as is clear from the foregoing, the sleeper according to the invention permits the use of coachscrews for fastening the rails.

Compared to composite sleepers comprising a bracing element having a vertical web, the sleeper according to the invention permits a much simpler arrangement of the rail fastening means, the apertures '7 formed in the horizontal web of the element 2 only resulting in a negligible weakening of the latter.

The use of T-bolts is also facilitated, the moulding of the sleeper presenting in this case no problem and the cavities formed in the concrete to permit the rotation of the bolts and the locking or keying thereof being reduced to a minimum.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described, many modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

l claim:

1. A molding device for producing a railway sleeper having two spaced concrete blocks held in a spaced con dition by an elongated metal bracing element, said mold ing device comprising, a mold having side walls and a bottom for receiving concrete to be molded therein, one of said side walls having a notch for receiving an elongated element corresponding to the bracing element of the finished sleeper therein with said element having an end portion extending into the mold and extending out wardly thereof, means cooperative with said element for closing said notch when said element is in position, said bottom having a plurality of through, spaced openings corresponding in number to a plurality of cavities to be formed in a finished block of said sleeper, said mold being open opposite said bottom to allow introduction concrete therein, a plurality of mold cores receivable in a respective one of said openings in said mold bottom, one of said cores comprising a plurality of parts positionable next adjacent each other to form in the finished concrete block a cavity for receiving a securing bolt therein in an inverted position, said parts of said one core comprising an elongated central part and two other elongated parts positionable oppositetly each other with said central part therebetween, said end portion of said bracing element having an aperture disposed for receiving said parts of said one core, said two other parts having lateral bosses for forming lateral extensions substantially immediately adjacent an underside of said end portion of said bracing element internally of the block on a longitudinal cavity formed extending into said block by said one core, said central part being Withdrawable longitudinally from between said two other parts when disposed extending into said mold through a respective one of said openings on said bottom receiving said one core, said central part having a width suficient to permit withdrawal of said other two parts from said elongated cavity subsequently to withdrawal of said central part from between said other two parts and said central part of said one core comprising an extension for causing said one core to extend from said bottom to the opening opposite said bottom to define an extension on said cavity on said block for providing a drain through said block, and said centrol part and said two other parts having shoulders abutting said end portion of said bracing element positioning said one core parts in position for molding said lateral extensions of said longitudinal cavity immediately adjacent said underside of said bracing element.

2 A molding device for producing a railway sleeper having two spaced concrete blocks held in a spamd condition by an elongated metal bracing element, said moldmg device comprising, a mold having side walls and a bottom for receiving concrete to be molded therein, one of said side walls having a notch for receiving an elongated element corresponding to the bracing element of the finished sleeper therein with said element having an end portion extending into the mold and extending out- 5 wardly thereof, means cooperative with said element for closing said notch when said element is in position, said bottom having a plurality of through, spaced openings corresponding in number to a plurality of cavities to be formed in a finished block of said sleeper, said mold being open opposite said bottom to allow introduction of concrete therein, a plurality of mold cores each receivable in a respective one of said openings in said mold bottom, one of said cores comprising a plurality of parts positionable next adjacent each other to form in the finished concrete block a cavity for receiving a securing bolt therein in an inverted position, said parts of said one core comprising an elongated central part and two other elongated parts positionable oppositely each other with said central part therebetween, said' end portion of said bracing element having an aperture disposed for receiving said parts of said one core, said two other parts having lateral bosses for forming lateral extensions internally of the block on a longitudinal cavity formed extending into said block by said one core, said central part being withdrawable longitudinally from between said two other parts when disposed extending into said mold through a respective one of said openings on said bottom receiving said one core, said central part having a width sufiicient to permit withdrawal of said other two parts from said elongated cavity subsequently to withdrawal of said central part from between said other two parts, said central parts of said one core comprising an extension for causing said one core to extend from said bottom to the opening opposite said bottom to define an extension on said cavity on said block for providing a drain through said block, and said central part and said other two parts having shoulders for abutting said bracing element and holding said end portion in fixed position for molding a concrete block of said sleeper in said mold, and means on said mold bottom for removably receiving a locking-piece extending therethrough and through said one core parts for holding said one core in a set axial position extending into said mold, whereby said bracing element is held in a fixed position during molding.

3. A molding device for producing a railway sleeper having two spaced concrete blocks held in a spaced con dition by an elongated metal bracing element, said molding device comprising, a mold having side walls and a bottom for receiving concrete to be molded therein, one of said side walls having a notch for receiving an elongated element corresponding to the bracing element of the finished sleeper therein with said element having an end portion extending into the mold and extending outwardly thereof, means cooperative with said element for closing said notch when said element is in position, said bottom having a plurality of through, spaced openings corresponding in number to a plurality of cavities to be formed in a finished block of said sleeper, said mold being open opposite said bottom to allow introduction of concrete therein, a plurality of mold cores each receivable in a respective one of said openings in said mold bottom, one of said cores comprising a plurality of parts positionable next adjacent each other to form in the finished concrete block a cavity for receiving a securing bolt therein in an inverted position, said parts of said one core comprising an elongated central part and two other elongated parts positionable oppositely each other with said central part therebetween, said end portion of said bracing element having an aperture disposed for receiving said arts of said one core, said two other parts having lateral bosses for forming lateral extensions internally of the block on a longitudinal cavity formed extending into said block by said one core, said central part being withdrawable longitudinally from between said two other parts when disposed extending into said mold through a respective one of said openings on said bottom receiving said one core, said central part having a width sufiicient to permit withdrawal of said other two parts from said elongated cavity subsequently to withdrawal of said central part from between said other two parts said central part and said other two parts having shoulders for abutting said bracing element and holding said end portion in fixed position, for molding a concrete block of said sleeper in said mold, and means on said mold bottom for removably receiving a locking-piece extending therethrough and through said one core parts for holding said one core in a set axial position extending into said mold, whereby said bracing element is held in a fixed position during molding.

4. A molding device for producing a railway sleeper having two spaced concrete blocks held in a spaced condition by an elongated metal bracing element, said molding device comprising a mold having side walls and a bottom for receiving concrete to be molded therein, one of said side walls having a notch for receiving an elongated element corresponding to the bracing element of the finished sleeper therein with said element having an end portion extending into the mold, and extending outwardly thereof, means for closing said notch when said element is in position, said bottom having a plurality of through, spaced openings corresponding in number to a plurality of cavities to be formed in a finished block of said sleeper, said mold being open opposite said bottom to allow introductoin of concrete therein, a plurality of mold cores each receivable in a respective one of said openings in said mold bottom, one of said cores comprising a plurality of parts positionable next adjacent each other to form in the finished concrete block a cavity for receiving a securing bolt therein in an inverted position, said parts of said one core comprising an elongated central part and two other elongated parts positionable oppositely each other with said central part therebetween, said end portion of said bracing element having an aperture disposed for receiving said parts of said one core, said two other parts having lateral bosses for forming lateral extensions internally of the block on a longitudinal cavity formed extending into said block by said one core, said central part being withdrawable extending into said mold through a respective one of said openings on said bottom receiving said one core, said central part having a width sutficient to permit withdrawal of said other two parts from said elongated cavity subsequently to withdrawal of said central part from between said other two parts, and means on said mold bottom for removably receiving a locking-piece extending therethrough and through said one core parts for holding said one core in a set axial position extending into said mold, whereby said one core parts and said bracing element are held in fixed relative positions and held relative to said mold with a minimum of cavities being formed in said concrete blocks.

5. A molding device for producing a railway sleeper having two spaced concrete blocks held in a spaced condition by an elongated metal bracing element, said molding device comprising, two molds, each mold having side walls and a bottom for receiving concrete to be molded therein, one of said side walls having a notch for receiving an elongated element corresponding to the bracing element of the finished sleeper therein with said element having an end portion extending into the mold and extending outwardly thereof, means cooperative with said element for closing said notch when said element is in position, said bottom having a plurality of through, spaced openings corresponding in number to a plurality of cavities to be formed in a finished block of said sleeper, said mold being open opposite said bottom to allow introduction of concrete therein, a plurality of mold cores each'receivable in a respective one of said openings in said mold bottom, one of said cores comprising a plurality of parts positionable next adjacent each other to form in the finished concrete block a cavity for receiving a securing bolt therein in an inverted position, said parts of said one core comprising an elongated central part and two other elongated parts positionable oppositely each other with said central part therebetween, said end portion of said bracing element having an aperture disposed for receiving said parts of said one core, said two other parts having lateral bosses for forming lateral extensions internally of the block on a longitudinal cavity 5 said bottom receiving said one core, said central part 10 having a width snfficient to permit withdrawal of said other two parts from said elongated cavity subsequently to withdrawal of said central part from between said other two parts, and said central part and said other two parts having shoulders for abutting said bracing element holding said end portion during molding of a concrete block of said sleeper in said mold.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 500,682 7/93 Vallee et a1 1845 1,668,181 5/28 Wills 238--116 2,128,530 8/38 Hadley 238-84 2,656,115 10/53 Sonneville 238-417 2,678,166 5/54 Mork 23884 2,853,763 9/58 Van Hook 25121 2,966,717 1/61 Fuller et a1. 25-121 2,983,021 5/61 Mailard 25-118 FOREIGN PATENTS 865,520 2/41 France.

15 MICHAEL V. BRINDISI, Primary Examiner.

JAMES L. SHANK, ROBERT F. WHITE, WILLIAM J.

STEPHENSON, Examiners. 

1. A MOLDING DEVICE FOR PRODUCING A RAILWAY SLEEPER HAVING TWO SPACES CONCRETE BLOCKS HELD IN A SPACED CONDITION BY AN ELONGATED METAL BRACING ELEMENT, SAID MOLDING DEVICE COMPRISING, A MOLD HAVING SIDE WALLS AND A BOTTOM FOR RECEIVING CONCRETE TO BE MOLDED THEREIN, ONE OF SAID SIDE WALLS HAVING A NOTCH FOR RECEIVING AN ELONGATED ELEMENT CORRESPONDING TO THE BRACING ELEMENT OF THE FINISHED SLEEPER THEREIN WITH SAID ELEMENT HAVING AN END PORTION EXTENDING INTO THE MOLD AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREOF, MEANS COOPERATIVE WITH SAID ELEMENT FOR CLOSING SAID NOTCH WHEN SAID ELEMENT IS IN POSITION, SAID BOTTOM HAVING A PLURALITY OF THROUGH, SPACED OPENINGS CORRESPONDING IN NUMBER OF A PLURALITY OF CAVITIES TO BE FORMED IN A FINISHED BLOCK OF SAID SLEEPER, SAID MOLD BEING OPEN OPPOSITE SAID BOTTOM TO ALLOW THE INTRODUCTION CONCRETE THEREIN, A PLURALITY OF MOLD CORES RECEIVABLE IN A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID OPENINGS IN SAID MOLD BOTTOM, ONE OF SAID CORES COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF PARTS POSITIONABLE NEXT ADJACENT EACH OTHER TO FORM IN THE FINISHED CONCRETE BLOCK A CAVITY FOR RECEIVING A SECURING BOLT THEREIN IN AN INVERTED POSITION, SAID PARTS OF SAID ONE CORE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED CENTRAL PART AND TWO OTHER ELONGATED PARTS POSITIONABLE OPPOSITELY EACH OTHER WITH SAID CENTRAL PART THEREBETWEEN, SAID END PORTION OF SAID BRACING ELEMENT HAVING AN APERTURE DISPOSED FOR RECEIVING SAID PARTS OF SAID ONE CORE, SAID TWO OTHER PARTS HAVING LATERAL BOSSES FOR FORMING LATERAL EXTENSIONS SUBSTANTIALLY IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT AN UNDERSIDE OF SAID END PORTION OF SAID BRACING ELEMENT INTERNALLY OF THE BLOCK ON A LONGITUDINAL CAVITY FORMED EXTENDING INTO SAID BLOCK BY SAID ONE CORE, SAID CENTRAL PART BEING WITHDRAWABLE LONGITUDINALLY FROM BETWEEN SAID TWO OTHER PARTS WHEN DISPOSED EXTENDING INTO SAID MOLD THROUGH A RESPECTIE ONE OF SAID OPENINGS ON SAID BOTTOM RECEIVING SAID ONE CORE, SAID CENTRAL PART HAVING A WIDTH SUFFICIENT TO PERMIT WITHDRAWAL OF SAID OTHER TWO PARTS FROM SAID ELONGATED CAVITY SUBSEQUENTIALLY TO WITHDRAWAL OF SAID CENTRAL PART FROM BETWEEN SAID OTHER TWO PARTS AND SAID CENTRAL PART OF SAID ONE CORE COMPRISING AN EXTENSION FOR CAUSING SAID ONE CORE TO EXTEND FROM SAID BOTTOM TO THE OPENING OPPOSITE SAID BOTTOM TO DEFINE AN EXTENSION ON SAID CAVITY ON SAID BLOCK FOR PROVIDING A DRAIN THROUGH SAID BLOCK, AND SAID CENTROL PART AND SAID TWO OTHER PARTS HAVING SHOULDERS ABUTTING SAID END PORTION OF SAID BRACING ELEMENT POSITIONING SAID ONE CORE PARTS IN POSITION FOR MOLDING SAID LATERAL EXTENSIONS OF SAID LONGITUDINAL CAVITY IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT SAID UNDERSIDE OF SAID BRACING ELEMENT. 